Electric-arc lamp.



Patented Aug. 7, I900. T. SPENCER.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed May 14, 1900.] (No Model.)

2 SheetsSheet 1.

FIG. 2.

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No. 655,526. Patented Aug. 7, I900. T. SPENCER.

ELECTRIC ARC LAIP.

(Application filed May 14, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

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THOMAS SPENCER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HELIOS UPTON COMPANY, OF SAME PLAOE.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,526, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed May 14, 1900- Serial No. 16,554. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SPENCER, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Arc Lamps, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates particularly to a dashpot forming part of the regulating mechanism of an arc-lamp and so arranged with respect to the lamp-carbon and the regulating-solenoid that its braking effect serves to prevent excessive movement of said carbon from sudden fluctuations in the magnetic field of said solenoid, which fluctuations may occur at any time during the practical operation of the lamp, and particularly at each beginning of such operation.

The dash-pots ordinarily provided for the purpose described are of either one of two general types,whe'reof the first comprises a cylindrical chamber and a piston loosely fitted therein, so arranged that the movement of the lamp-carbon in both directions of its re ciprocation is checked or retarded in accord ance with the rate of leakage of air around said. loose piston. The second type aforesaid comprises in addition to the piston and piston-chamber a valve so arranged that the braking action of the device is constant in the direction of reciprocation of the lampcarbon opposed to the pull of the solenoid. The first type of dash-pot aforesaid is only useful during the abnormal regulation ofthe lamp and is a hindrance to the normal regulation of the lamp, because its full braking efiect is constant and opposed to every regulating movement of the lamp-carbon. The second type of dash-pot aforesaid is objectionable in that the braking effect is constant in the one direction and opposed to the normal regulation of the lamp.

My invention comprises a dash-pot so constructed and arranged that the full braking elfect thereof is automatically secured in opposition to any sudden movement of the lampcarbon; but, as hereinafter set forth, the relation of the parts of the device is such that no braking effect whatever is opposed to the normal regulation of the lamp. Therefore a more efficient regulation is secured by my invention under both abnormal and normal conditions of operations than has been possible with the devices hitherto known.

Although my improvements are applicable to any form of arc-lamp, they are of particular advantage in connection with an inclosed arc-lamp energized by an alternating circuit, and therefore I have shownsuch embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a convenientform of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of my invention. Fig. 3 shows the application of my improvements to an arc-lamp wherein the movable core-armature of the regulating-solenoid is fixed to the carbon-holder, so as to directly shift the latter. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the form of dash-pot shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 isa sectional View taken on the line A A in Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.

4:, showing a modified form of spring for the valve. Figs. 7 and 8 show modified forms of valve mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4., 1 is the frame of the lamp, upon which is fixed the regulatingsolenoid 2, provided with the. movable corearmature 3. ton which is fixed upon said frame, and the dash-pot cylinder 5 is mounted for vertical reciprocation with respect to said piston. (3 is an air-port extending from the interior of said cylinder to the atmosphere, and 7 is a valve adapted to close said port. Said valve is provided with a stem 8, extending through said port, and 9 is a spring arranged to normally maintain said valve open. Said solen oid 2 is operatively connected with said dasho pot by means of the lever 10, which is fulcrumed upon the frame 1 at 11 and pivotally connected with the armature 3 at 12 and with the valve 7 at 13.

14 is a clutch of any convenient form oper- 4 is a dash-pot plunger or pis- 8o that the same may be readily seated whether the parts are in precise alinement or not. Although I prefer to normally maintain said valve '7 open by means of a spring 9 of the form best shown in Fig. 5, it is obvious that a spring of any other configuration may be employed. For instance, I have shown in Fig. 6 an ordinary wire spiral spring 19, which bears at its upper extremity upon the wall of the chamber 5 and at its lower extremity upon the flange of the valve 21.

Although I prefer to provide the dash-pot with a spring-actuated valve, as above described, the spring may be dispensed with, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, wherein a valvechamber 22 is provided intermediate of the length of the port (5 to receive the spherical valve 23, which is arranged to seat at 24: and close said port 6 whenever the air is caused to rush into the port (5 by sudden upward movement of the dash-pot cylinder 5, the normal position of said valve being that shown in said Figs. 2 and 7, wherein the valve is open and the interior of the cylinder 5 is in communication with the outer atmosphere,

' the weight of said valve serving to restore it to its normal position when relieved of the sudden rush of air through the port 6.

In Fig. 8 the valve 25, which is similar in form to that shown in Figs. 1, 4c, and (3, is provided with counterweight-levers 26, which are connected with the cylinder 5 by means of links 27 and are so proportioned as to normally maintain the valve in open position, as shown.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 3 the regulating-solenoid 2 and the armature are in concentric relation with the carbon 16 and the valve 28 is directly connected with said armature 3 by means of the extension 29. The valve 28 is arranged to be seated within the piston 30; but the spring 31 serves to normally maintain said valve open. Said piston 30 and the cylinder 2, with which it cooperates, are in concentric relation with the solenoid and its core, said cylinder being in fixed relation with the frame 1 and said piston being movable with respect to said frame.

The operation of my invention is the same in the various forms hereinbefore described, to wit: The parts are so related that the ordinary regulating movements of the carbonholder in correspondence with fluctuations in the magnetic field of the solenoid are effected by means operatively connecting said solenoid with the holder of the movable carbon and accompanied by merely idle movement of the dash-pot, without any braking action of the latter, for the reason that the valve-spring or equivalent means described serve to maintain said dash-pot valve open and permit air to pass freely in or out of the port. However, any sudden fluctuation in the magnetic field of the solenoid, occasioned by any abnormal condition of the lamp-eircuit, results in such sudden initial movement of the armature and of the dash-pot elements connected therewith as to close the valve of the dash-pot and by sealing the latter instantly oppose the pressure of the atmosphere to such abnormal movements. Any such abnormal movement of the regulating mechanism being th us instantly checked by the braking action of the dash-pot, the valve of the latter immediately assumes its normal position under the operation of the spring or other means provided to maintain said valve normally open.

It is to be noted that the above-described arrangement and operation of my invention are such that my improved dash-pot is thrown into and out of operation automatically and is only in operation to produce a braking effect upon the regulating mechanism when the latter has a tendency to abnormal move ment, the operation of my invention being such as to instantly check the abnormal. movements of the regulating mechanism and yet leave the latter free to respond with precision to the minute fluctuations in the magnetic field of the regulating-solenoid, which occur from instant to instant during the normal regulation of the lamp. There fore myinvention is advantageous, as above described, in that a more precise regulation of the lamp may be secured under all conditions of its operation and with a minimum expenditure of energy to effect such regulation.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precis details of construction which I have shown, as it is obvious that they may be varied in accordance with the particular lamp structure in which the regulating mechanism is embodied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In an electricare lamp, the combination with a regulatin g-solenoid,of a carbon-holder, a dash-pot operatively related to said solen oid, and means arranged to prevent the braking action of said dash-pot during the normal movement of said carbon-holder, and to antomatically secure the braking action of said dash-pot by sudden movement of said carbonholder, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with a regulating-solenoid,of a movable armature for said solenoid, a carbon-holder, a dash potoperatively related to said armature, and to said carbon-holder, and means arranged to prevent the braking action of said dash pot during the normal movement of said armature, and to automatically secure the braking action of said dash-pot by sudden movement of said armature, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with aregulating-solenoid, of a movable armature for said solenoid, a dashpot, comprising a cylinder and piston arranged for relative reciprocation, means operatively connecting said armature and said daslrpot, an air-port between the interior of said dash-pot and the outer atmosphere, a valve arranged to control.

the passage of air through said port, means in operative relation with said valve arranged to normally maintain said port open, and means arranged to close said port by sudden movement of said armature, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with a regulating-solenoid, of a movable armature forsaid solenoid, a carbon-holder, a dashpot, comprisinga cylinder and piston in relatively-movable relation, an air-port between the interior of said dash-pot and the outer air, a valve arranged to control the passage of air through said port, a lever operatively connecting said armature, said carbon holder and said valve, and a spring arranged to normally maintain said valve open, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with a frame, of a regulating-solenoid fixed upon said frame, a dash-pot piston fixed upon said frame, an armature arranged to reciprocate in said solenoid, a dash-pot cylinder arranged to reciprocate on said piston, an airport extending through the Wall of said oylinder, a valve arranged to close said port, and provided with a stem,extending therethrough, a lever fulcrumed on said frame and pivotally connected with said armature and said valve-stem, a carbon-holder connected with said lever in opposition to said armature, and

a spring within said cylinder arranged to normally maintain said valve open and to permit the closure of said valve by sudden movement of said armature, substantially as set forth.

THOMAS SPENCER.

Witnesses:

(J. A. WEBSTER, FRANK S. MARE. 

